Brock Osweiler (17) of the Denver Broncos is welcomed to the field by Demaryius Thomas (88) of the Denver Broncos in the third quarter. The Broncos played the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Nov. 15, 2015. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Could this be a look at the Broncos’ future?

Late in the fourth quarter Saturday on fourth-and-2 at the Chiefs’ 7-yard line, Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler spins out of Kansas City pressure and connects with Andre Caldwell in the end zone for a touchdown.

The score cut Kansas City’s lead down to 29-13 with 1:45 to go in the game, which would end up being the final score.

For his efforts, Osweiler finished the game completing 14-of-24 passes for 146 yards, one TD and one interception.

Brock Osweiler fires a short pass in the first quarter of the preseason game against the Cardinals. (Steve Nehf, The Denver Post)

The Broncos closed out their preseason with a 22-20 loss to the Cardinals at Sports Authority Field on Thursday, providing the final audition for many players as the final roster cut looms.

But the game was a follow to bigger news earlier in the day, when starting safety T.J. Ward was suspended by the NFL for one game for violating its personal conduct policy. The ban caught Ward and the team by surprise, as it was in connection to an incident that happened more than 15 months ago.

Following Thursday’s game, Ward, coach Gary Kubiak and other players weighed in on the day’s events:

GARY KUBIAK

On Ward’s suspension:
“You don’t like starting your afternoon that way. It’s disappointing, but he’s accepted responsibility for it. Obviously, he’s a tough player to lose, but it is what it is. We understand our situation with him. We understand our situation with Derek (Wolfe). We’ve got to have guys step pin, our chip up and ready to go opening week.”

On if Ward’s suspension will affect roster decisions:
“Does it change how we look at things? Whether it’s Derek or whether it’s T.J., you’re looking at it the same way. I would answer that by saying we’re going to put the best 53 guys on this team. You don’t keep guys just for numbers, you know what i mean? You keep guys that belong on this team, that can help you win. I don’t know. I can’t answer that right now. We could obviously be heavy one place or another because of their scenarios. We’ll see.”

On Montee Ball’s performance:
“The numbers aren’t good, but we didn’t run the ball a lick in the game. I’ve got to look at the big picture. I would say, me watching the game, I don’t know how many fair opportunities he had. I know he played hard. He played on special teams. He did everything he could do.”

T.J. WARD, SS

On the suspension and his reaction:
“I thought that the situation was behind me and I found out a little bit before camp that I might be suspended. I had the appeal, it didn’t go the way that I wanted it to go and I have to suffer the consequences.

“(I’m) being punished for being accused of doing something. Not doing something. But being accused. And I have to pay the consequences for it. I just don’t feel the whole process is very fair.

“Oh, I was very shocked when I first heard the (potential) suspension. I was completely shocked because the incident happened a year ago. This is the next season. I played a full season after and now it’s the following season, so I was very shocked.”

On if there’s any more he can do to have the ban overturned:
“I’m going to try, but my last name’s not Brady. So I’ll probably just have to sit it out.

“It’s so close to the first game, I doubt there’s much I can do.”

On why it took so long:
“I’m not sure. Maybe they were busy with Tom Brady and that federal hearing, but I’m not sure.Read more…

With rookie Isaiah Burse now on the waiver wire, the Denver Broncos will have slot receiver Wes Welker serve as their primary punt returner Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Welker has the most experience as he returned punts for the Miami Dolphins from 2004-06, and regularly for the New England Patriots from 2007-2009 and again in 2012. He had 10 punt returns for the Broncos last season.

After the big three of Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Eric Decker, the Broncos have had a fierce competition for the No. 4 and 5 receiver spots. Greg Orton made an early move but then suffered a severely sprained ankle.

Andre “Bubba” Caldwell had been the No. 4 receiver in recent weeks and fifth-round drafted rookie Tavarres King seemed to have the edge for No. 5.

But Gerell Robinson has been mixing in with the top offense in recent days. Robinson was a late cut by the Broncos as an undrafted rookie last season, then was signed to the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad.

Want to know who has caught Broncos coach John Fox’s eye early on? Thought you might.

He’ll tell you.

“Guys who are performing that fans maybe aren’t as familiar with are a guy like (tight end) Julius Thomas,” Fox said. “I think (wide receiver) Andre Caldwell has gotten more opportunities. (Offensive lineman) Louis Vasquez is new to us and probably new to our fans but I like what I’ve seen in him. (Offensive lineman) Manny Ramirez has made the switch from guard to center and I’m impressed with him. Our running backs, our new young people – fans saw a little bit of (Ronnie) Hillman last year, they’ve heard about Montee Ball and Knowshon (Moreno) is in that mix.

“Defensively, I think Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was having an outstanding camp, he’s been on the shelf for about a week and a half (with an injury). When we get into games he’s a new guy I think people will take notice of. (Defensive tackle) Slyvester Williams, (safety) Duke Ihenacho – he was with us last year, just didn’t get an opportunity to play very much and has worked very hard this offseason. He’s had some bright spots in practices. Once these games start, it will kind of show.”

Follow Chris Dempsey on Twitter @dempseypost or email him at cdempsey@denverpost.com

Peyton Manning takes in a chunk of change from the Broncos. But he’s not the team’s highest-paid player. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

The Denver Broncos’ highest-paid players in 2012 were Peyton Manning and Elvis Dumervil. They were also the No. 1 and No. 3 highest salaries in the NFL in 2012. But that’s not entirely shocking if you’re keeping track. (Manning will cash in even more down the road, and Dumervil took home even more than that, really**).

Some of the other numbers, though, are certainly interesting. And they could be big clues about who gets a raise this offseason and who gets jettisoned.

The Broncos defense was among the highest-paid units in the NFL this season at somewhere near $66-71 million — that’s about 58 percent of the NFL salary cap (which was $120.6 million in 2012). The Denver offense accounted for only $55.2 million — that ranks 14th in the NFL.

The Broncos’ full salary and contract numbers from 2012 are after the jump.

Cincinnati — This season has not gone as Andre “Bubba” Caldwell has hoped.

The receiver is inactive for a fourth time in eight games here today against his former Cincinnati Bengals.

A third-year draft choice of the Bengals in 2008, Caldwell played four years here, then became a free agent and signed a two-year deal with the Broncos on March 30 — 10 days after Peyton Manning signed.

Caldwell’s fortunes essentially changed on April 17 when Brandon Stokley re-signed with the Broncos to become Manning’s slot receiver. Special teams is a big reason why Matt Willis has moved ahead of Caldwell at No. 4 receiver.

With Andre Caldwell deactivated, the Broncos are only dressing four receivers: Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, Matt Willis and Brandon Stokley. And Stokley is primarily a slot guy.

If one of the outside receivers gets dinged, tight end Julius Thomas would primarily fill in. He was supposed to be the emergency receiver last year in Game 2 against Cincinnati, but when Julius Thomas suffered an ankle injury, backup quarterback Tim Tebow became the third receiver.

Tebow got in for three plays with John Fox and Mike McCoy deciding to go most of the game with two receiver sets.

The first game brought the first set of surprises in the Broncos’ game-day roster as running back Ronnie Hillman and receiver Andre “Bubba” Caldwell were deactivated. Then again, Broncos coach John Fox has been known to take a patient approach to players coming back from injuries.

Hillman, a rookie running back, got his share of carries in the final two preseason games after missing the first two with his strained hamstring. But Hillman didn’t show that instant burst and without that, he’s not better than Knowshon Moreno or Lance Ball in the third-down pass protections.

I’m a little more surprised by Caldwell’s deactivation. Then again he suffered badly battered ribs in the second preseason game against Cincinnati.

SPORTS AUTHORITY FIELD AT MILE HIGH — With only five days left until the Broncos set their 53-man roster, the team has yet to figure out who will be its primary kickoff and punt returners.

It’s a position battle to watch today as the Broncos host the 49ers in the third preseason game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Only two players have returned a punt for the Broncos’ this preseason — cornerbacks Syd’Quan Thompson and Tony Carter. Each has fielded one punt and fair caught another. Three players have returned a kickoff — wide receivers Andre Caldwell, Matt Willis and Omar Bolden.

Eric Decker (punt return) and Lance Ball (kickoff return) are atop the depth chart for the return roles but neither player has lined up there this preseason.

SPORTS AUTHORITY FIELD AT MILE HIGH — It was a scary moment for Broncos wide receiver Andre Caldwell when he went down after taking a hard shot to the midsection from a Seattle defender.

Caldwell ripped his helmet off as he writhed around in pain in the grass before he walked gingerly off the field with the help of Broncos trainers.

Caldwell was still moving slowly in the locker room post-game, but said X-Rays showed no broken ribs.

The Broncos need Caldwell to stay healthy. Though he worked primarily with the second-team offense Saturday night, Caldwell was the team’s first kickoff returner, and broke for a 34-yard return in the first half.

The Broncos’ depth at linebacker may be a concern in the coming weeks with Mike Mohamed and Nate Irving having been two of the four players who left Saturday night’s preseason game against the Seahawks.

Mohamed suffered a hamstring injury while Irving has injured ribs. The Broncos came into the game a little light at linebacker with Danny Trevathan (ankle) and Keith Brooking (hamstring) held out of the game.

Linebacker D.J. Williams also did not play. He was in uniform, but didn’t have shoulder pads or a helmet. He has had limited work in camp and played in either of the Broncos two preseason games because he faces a six-game suspension to open the regular season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Wide receiver Andre Caldwell (ribs) and cornerback Joshua Moore (hamstring) also left Saturday’s game and will be evaluated more Sunday.

Remember that $40 million in salary cap space the Broncos had entering the 2012 offseason? They figured out how to spend it. In the past 10 days, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen has invested nearly $140 million in nine players.

A look at how the Broncos have spent during this free agency period, with their total contract and how much they count against the cap in 2012:

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.